RARE 1851-O HALF EAGLE

With the exception of the 1844-O, all of the No Motto half eagles from New Orleans are rare in any uncirculated grade. The 1851-O is more available in higher grades than the 1843-O Large Letters and 1846-O issues, with approximately eight examples currently accounted for in MS60 and finer.

This very attractive example has been off the market since 2017 when I sold it to the New England Collection. I subsequently improved this slot with a PCGS/CAC MS62.

The surfaces are covered with lovely medium honey-gold color, and the strike is sharp save for the curls below IBER in LIBERTY and he corresponding reverse. A few noticeable marks in the lower right obverse field near star twelve are likely the reason that this coin didn’t receive approval at CAC.

PCGS has graded three in MS62 with four finer (two in MS62, and one each in MS63 and MS64). The PCGS price guide is $21,500 in MS61.

The last auction sale for this date in this grade occurred back in 2014.

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